Electric switch.



W. S. MQLEWEE.

ELEGTRIG SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.13, 1909.

Patented July 19, 1910.

\ ing walls to form sockets for the p ug-cut-.

To all whom it may concern:

wrtnrjn'iu s. Menswear, or vaimnnv, PENNSYLVANIA.

nnnc'rnrc swrrcn,

Specification of Letters Ijatent.

Patented July re, ieio.

Application filed February 13, 1909. Serial No. 477,497

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM s. Merawm,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Yardley, in the county of Bucks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electric switches and my invention comprises in its construction a base, a switch and a socket adapted to receive a plug-cut-out.

The object of my invention is to provide a switch slidably mounted upon a base. Said base having housings thereon to inclose the gap formed when the switch is open and the circuit broken, so as to prevent the accidental injury to a person handling the switch, i

, A further object of my invention is to so construct the connections between the switch and the plug-cut-out sockets that perfeet insulation of the parts is provided; and a still further object-of my invention is to provide novel means for operating the switch. Referring to the accompanying drawings: re 1. 1s a 1m view of my improved swltch; Fig. 2. 1s a vertical section on line 22 Fig. 1; Fig. 3. is a vertical section on line 3-3 Fig. 1; Fig. 4. is a vertical section on line 4:4 Fig. 1; Fig. 5. is a vertical sect on on line 55 Fig. 1; and,'Fig. 6. is a perspective view of the contact-post and the contact-plate detached.

Tn the drawings in which like references refer to like parts, 1 represents the base made ,of porcelain or other suitable insulating material, Upon the base are formed outs and said base is also provided with recesses and depressions for the reception of the several parts. The base 1 is provided upon the upper side with an enlargement 'Which forms the .housing2 forthe switchrods 3and 4, which latter. slide longitudinally in apertures formed in said housing 2.

The switch-rods 3 and 4 are connected at one end by a cross-bar 5, of insulating material. A plate 8, secured to said crossbar 5, is provided upon its outer end w1th ahandle 9 by which the switch-rods may be movedlongitudinally throu h the apertures formed in the housing 2. second handle is also provided, for operating the switchprovided with an aperture which permits said, contact-plate to encircle the bosses 35, a formed upon the base 1. Said contact-plate rods, consisting of an arm 12 pivotally mounted in a;bearing 13 secured in the base 1. Said arm 12 is connected by the bolt 14 with the-plate 8 secured to the cross-bar 5 and upon the arm 12 is a handle 15 with which the arm 12 can be conveniently movedto operate the switch-rods. By providing two handles the switch may be conveniently operated when placed in a vertical or horizontal position and when located in a high or low position upon the switch board. The contact-posts 17 and 18, shown in detail in Fig. 6, are secured upon the base 1 at either end of the housing 2 and in aline ment with the apertures formed in said housing for the switch-rods. posts 17 and 18 are made of a spring-plate folded upon itself so that the free ends thereof, having the curved portions '20 will impinge against the-switch-rod when it is forced between them and make a perfect I contact. The contact-posts 17 and 18 are held in depressions formed in the base, by the contact plates 22 and 23 having bifurthe base 24 of the contact-posts 17 and 18 and at either side of the vertical portion 25 of said contact-posts. Said contact-posts are secured by screws 26 and 27 passing through the base.

J The contact-plates 23 have binding-screws 29 thereon to which are connected the line wires 30 and 31. The switch-rods 3 and 4 are constantly in contact with the "contact-posts 18. When said switch-rods are moved into the position shown in full lines in the drawings the contact is made with the contact-posts 17 and the circuit 13 completed When the switch-rods are with drawn into the position shown in dotted lines Fig. 2, the circuit will be broken and the; gap formed between the ends of the switch-rods and thecontact-post 17 will'be covered by" thehousing 2 'encasing the 1 switch-rods.

I The contact-plate 22 connects the contactpost 17 with the metal sleeve 32, in the plugcut-out socket 6. The contact-plate 22 is 22 issecured upon the base by a: screw 26 which holds said contact-plate securely in contact with the contact-post 17 and the sleeve 32. Y

The metal sleeve 32 is made w1thabot- Said contact V cated ends which are adapted to pass over tom having a flange '34: formed thereon, which flange fits into the aperture formed in the contact-plate 22' and the edge of the flange 34 is pressed around the contact-plate to securely fasten the sleeve and the contactplate together. The aperture thus formed in the. bottom 33 of the sleeve will permit the sleeve and the contact-plate to encircle said boss 35 and the said parts will be securely held in the bottom of the socket by the screw 26. passing through the base. The contact-screw 40, passing through said boss 35 forms the other point of contact for the plug-cut-0ut.. The said screws 40 are connected with the line wires 41 and 42 by the plates 43. By extending the boss 35, a suficient height above the contact-plate 22 and the bottom of the sleeve 32, as shown in the drawings, the'head of the contact-screw will be sufiiciently separated from the contact-plate 22 and the metal sleeves 32, to,

form a complete insulation between said parts and thus avoid the necessity of providing insulating washers in the plug-cut-out sockets, and also to reduce the number of parts, simplify the construction and'reduce the cost of the same.

Havin thus described my invention I claim an desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an electric switch having a sliding-' rod and contact-posts, the combination of a base having, a-housing form ed thereon, sald' housing being made of insulating material and having an aperture formed therein to receive said rod, said housing'located between said contact-posts and adapted to'fill the gap between one of said contact-posts, and said rod when the latter is withdrawn from the last mentioned contact-post to break the circuit.

2. In an electric switch, the combination of sliding-rods, a base havin g 'a' housing formed thereon formed of insulating inaterial, a cross-piece'of insulating material 7 connecting said rods, a handle extending in a line parallel with said rods, a handle,

tionsof said contact-post, said contact-plate having a recess formed therein to embrace the central portion of said contact-post and means for securing said contact-plate to the base of the switc r t In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' WILLIAM S. MCLEWEE.

Witnesses: 1

M. R. CLEELAND, JAMES F. 301mm.

- forming a base, a contact plate adapted to engage the said outwardly projecting per- 

